New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-11-20
is THE ATLANTA USELESS
OPINIONS ON CAPTAIN BUNCEs REPORT.
SECRETARY wHITNEY'S CALM VIEW OF THE CASE
WHAT NhXAL OFFICEEs SAY.

WHAT NAVAL OFFICERS SAY.
report submitted some time ago to the secrc
/ tary Of the Navy by Captain Buncc. OF the new
cruiser Atlanta, was made public yesterday. The
extracts supplied to the press indicate that Captain
buhco Is greatly dissatisfied with the Atlanta and
Considers her virtually useless. He suggests no
less than fifty alterations, chief among which arc
the following: That she have her bulk heads built up
ioic and aft that the steering gear and pilot house
he placed In protected part of the vessel that
nor guns give place to lighter and that her line
OF lire be improved.
1t APPEARS that Chief Constructor Wilson heartily
concnrs In the commanders recommendations, but
that Engnccrln-C Chief Melville docs not view them
favoraby. lie agrees with Captain Buncc in regard
to the steering gear which naval officers say could
be changed at expense of about $3 OOO thinks
the other sweeping alterations which would cost at
least 100000 for the Atlanta and her Ship the
Boston, wholly unnecessary. As these vessels arc
precisely alike I'm every particular follows that
the Atlanta is worthless, the Boston must be the
STIR IN NAVAL AND BUSINESS CIRCLES
Captain Buncc's report has, therefore created quito
sensation I'm naval circles, where each step in the
countrys naval advancement Is studied with affection
ate soictudc and also in business circles where
efficient navy is regarded Of vital consequence to
tho nation at large.
From information gathered last night by reporter
at the Navy Yard IT appears that singular
mas been made In Captain Buncc's report, eSc tho
extracts here misquote him. The Atlanta said
Rear Admiral Ghcrardi TO the reporter, is more
armOrcd vessel than OF the Transatlantic pas
scngcr ships Yet tho following is given a quota
tion from Captain Bunccs report: "Thc batteries
are placed for head fire. while the vessel IS armocd
| for broadsidc fights ony.'
Tho fact Is,p said Admiral Cherardl, that errors
occur In the construction of all vessels, and
must not he surprised If we do not attain perfection
I'm our first experiments with this class Of ships. No,
John Roach is not In the least to blanc for any de-
fostu lo IT., buut
them according designs prescribed by the Govern
! mcnt and did his part Of tho work thoroughly we'll
The draft of the Atlanta with her full supply Of coal
and ammunition board, is, doubt, considerably
moro than Intended but this not I'm Itself fatal
defect To build her up fore and aft recommended
! In Captain lunccs report would add to this difficulty
| by increasing her wclghi. Therefore do not deem
tempted it shoufi be with a view to making her
| lighter
THE BosrON's COMMANDER RETICENT.
Tho reporter next called on Captain Ramsay, COM
maudcr Of the Boston. ask him II he had found his
vessel such of lmpcrfcctions as Captain Bunce
reported the Atlanta to be. Captain Ramsay replied
that be had not yet had an opportunity to test his
ship I'm the open and that her guns and other
equipment, are not yet In place lie was not there
fore Inclined to express opinion on the subject
Several other naval officers wore seen during the
evening, all Of whom agreed In the c.nlon that The
faults reported by Captain huncc had probably been
exaggerated by tho newspaper reports sent here;
Tho Atlanta said one Of these officers whose
statement was approved by several others. was
bun after the most approved model for combined fore
auv part and her detected deck IS only Intended
srmorcd steamer hut as a fast cruiser with a few full-
rowrrcd glns she fnIv meets these requirements.
She is fa, and her gun, arr not exceeded 10y any OF
the same calihic in th9 world
rur QUESTION OF DRAFT
Another officer said: "1hc fact that She draws
more water than was intended by the original design
Fl, no serious dctrmcut hor She would soon be- light
cncd by the consumption Of her fuel, and while the
greater draft cont.ncd her stability would be In
creased thereby ~ To- her being built for head on
nllug only. that J., a,,uleiiy. she can Train H'c
,-uus ON either hroal' case Of need could fire
thrr, over the bov and three the stern At the
.rnc time In fact her lines of fire form of the
hest points ahout Lcf, considering the small number
and excellent quality Of her guns and Il sfrhcS me
much fault with vessel That + tho best We have ever
al. and Witch is good As any Of The Same size and
Glass iu existence
Mr. Whitney kNrW ABOUT TIE VESSELS FAULTS
Secretary whitney was visited a hi, house at Fifty
-e,cnh.st and frh ave. last eveuin: lie greeted The
rnr>r reporter cordially with the words: " II seems
Ike old times To he OIL aran. You are tic first
reporter have seen ior six wcest
The secretary va. couyssant with tic facs contained
in Captain Blucc- lc;cr ana spoke readily oil the sub
i.ct lie said: Those criticisms may be correct
They contain nothing to the Department. however
for W, have been aware Of the apparent faults Of
tns Atlanta and Boston for tnc. Captain Bunce
simply male collection o all the criticisms which have
been made. These SHIPS havc been but somewhat
after the design OF the E-neralda. Whlch the Arm
strong. bulk for the han Government The ismcralda.
however is not built up amld-lips ike tie Atlanta
and Eo,ron and has no bulkhead forward. You know
these vessels. their general appearance are very
much he fairy boats, low IN front ana behIul' ana
| ,,u, nm IN the middle There is froo-
| board forward which is about ten or
eleven feet above water And extends ait 10 the Dhhei
ON ms frccnoard the sinch rifle Is mounted There is
nrobanly no 10 lbt mat - low rceboard would allow
| the shipping er forward TO diaagreeabe
extent There would be no danger, however from that
"a FAR a, The ordnance Is concerned Captain Bnnce
j.. uudouhted' rgn Thesc ships are not arinoleu anu
,yhi,, ttrv aro intended - siNisch rifle Will he
smply sulli,icnL The rest of the CRITICISMS may aso
| nri.u,. The,s vessels designed In lSe2
and the art ship building has been
Gcycionir,, siuce then There Is 10 ship
ano,i which cannot b. criticised. Ih tho iron-clads
which We alc huIGing now, which are intended Tor gen
erh rather than coast service anu Nets"'o I 1 h,yo
good SEA boat. We shall ln'o. poiHl, n's |, '
bow When they are done. We may ma HaWS III thcin'
Hr WOULD LET THEM TRY THEMSELVES.
"My disposition would lie to let those ships OF war go
exactly a, they arc, and give them chance 10
try Themselves II. after while We are sure
that tho improvements suggested OF ot"o's'
would be really advantageous. tho vessels
could bs changed. Al present. as say my disposition
would % lot them 20 ~ they are 49,, ,.--,...
IL understand" said the reporter, that Engineer
Melville suggested thAt building mp the bow ana ste'rh
ofthe Atlanta would provide very good captaln rlurtr
DO Won think that meant ~ an insinlHtloh tnn
Captain liuucc l. looking more i"I P"'''o'' '"' ' ~
oh. re-" replied the secreiary hardly tmnk 'a ,O
However they shoot at each other III h'eJ way "o"h
there especially while | am away
A HUNIING Panty ~ OLD VIRGINIA.
RICHMOND Va, Nov. 10 CSpce'd-On Tuesday last
General SCHUYLER Of New-York. Vice-fresdent Thomp-
SON Of the Pen n.ylvsna Railroad and John s. Wise. OF